CHESHIRE County Council has been accused of waging a dirty tricks campaign in the war for survival in the local government shake-up.

Chester city councillors protested outside libraries yesterday after they were told they could not display their leaflets about regional government in the buildings despite county council information being handed out with every book.

They claim library staff have been told they must only promote the county council's views on the effects of political reorganisation and have branded the policy as censorship.

It has led to furious arguments between the two councils, which are both fighting for survival.

Chester City Council's deputy leader John Price said: "It's like a Stalinist regime. To stop us displaying our leaflets while their are being slipped into every book taken out is censorship.

"People have a right to hear both sides of the argument and that will not happen if they continue with these dirty tricks campaigns.

"We are furious. There is not much time left before the Boundary Commission's public consultation is up and we need to make sure everyone is armed with the facts, not just one side of the case.

"A library is a public building and should not be used in this way." The city council claims people would rather save it because it has a closer knowledge of local issues.

Labour group leader Derek Bateman said: "They are just being silly. They are putting their leaflets out all over the place.

"We are all subject to the same protocol and we are abiding by them.

"We have not complained when they have done similar things.

"They give them out at bill payment centres but they are not handing ours out as well. It's daft."